BLM Offers Reward for Information on Archaeological Site Looting Near Cody

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Office for Law Enforcement is offering up to $2,500 for information leading to the successful arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the looting of archaeological sites within a remote area of Shoshone Canyon near Cody, Wyo.

Example of a violation of the Archaeological Resources Protection Act.

“The looting of the nation’s prehistoric and historic artifacts is not only a violation of federal and state law, but artifacts stolen from their resting places leave a question mark in the timeline of our history,” said BLM Assistant Special Agent in Charge Alan Wolf.

Under the Archaeological Resources Protection Act, it is a felony to excavate, collect, damage or destroy archaeological resources on federal lands. In addition, it is also a federal crime to sell, purchase or transport for sale any human remains of a Native American under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.

Individuals with information about the looting are encouraged to contact BLM Special Agent Mike Ramirez at 406-896-5151, BLM Cody Law Enforcement Ranger Ron Lewis at 307-578-5931 or the Report Violations Hotline at 1-888-358-2310.

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's mission is to manage and conserve the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations under our mandate of multiple-use and sustained yield. In Fiscal Year 2013, the BLM generated $4.7 billion in receipts from public lands.